Solenoid with plunger and latch



Sept. 7, V1948. D. coNLAN 2,448,959

SOLENOID WITH PLUNGER AND LATCH Filed Feb. 27. 1945 lOl i INVENTOR. m// kA/Aw Patented Sept. 7, 1948 SOLENOID WITH PLUNGER AND LATCH David Conlan, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Conlan Electric Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 27, 1945, Serial No. 580,007

4 Claims. 1

The invention herein disclosed relates to annunciators, and special objects of the invention are to provide an annunciator of particularly compact structure, adapted for use on shipboard, positive in action, adapted to be quickly read and identified as to different signals, which will require individual restoration or resetting of each signal and in which the various signal devices will all be positively held both' in retracted and in released positions so as `to be unaiected by vibration or other forces.

Other important objects of the invention are to provide a simple, practical and eflicient form of annunciator device usable generally for signal or control purposes.

Other desirable objects and the novel features by which the purposes of the invention are attained are set forth or will appear in the course of the following specication.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of th'e specification illustrates a present practical embodiment of the invention. Structure, however, may be modied and changed as regards the immediate disclosure, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig. l in the drawing is a front or face view of an annunciator embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken sectional view as on substantially the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing particularly the buzzer controlling relay and two of the signal units, one retracted and the other in projected, signalling position;

Fig. 3 is a rear view showing the back of the annunciator panel and parts in section as on substantially the plane of line 3-3 of Fig` 2,'

Fig. 4 is a detail view of one of the self-latching solenoid plungers, constituting the indicating pushbuttons and switch actuating elements;

Fig. 5 is a simplied wiring diagram.

In the annunciator form of the invention illustrated there is provided a panel I preferably of insulating material, supporting solenoids 8 controlling pushbuttons 9 projectable into indicating relation at the front of th'e panel.

The solenoids are shown in Fig. 2 as each made up of a winding mounted on a sleeve I0, usually of brass or other non-magnetic material7 and which is screw threaded at the forward or outer end, at Il, to engage and extend through a corresponding screw passage l2 in the panel. The sleeve is locked in this supported relation in the panel by a collar I3 screwed over the protruding end of the sleeve exposed at the face of the panel.

These locking collars may be finished like the face of the panel so as to conform therewith, and they are shown as having inwardly extending annular flanges I4 at th'e outer ends covering the ends of the threaded sleeves and serving as guides for the plungers 9.

The inner ends of the solenoid sleeves also are shown as screw threaded at I5 to receive the screw caps or covers I6 which are secured in adjusted relation by lock nuts l1. These end caps serve as abutments for springs I8 located in the solenoid sleeves in back of the plungers for projecting the latter. The compression of these springs may be regulated by securing the abutment caps in variously adjusted positions on the inner ends of the sleeves.

The solenoid cores or plungers are held back in retracted relation by magnetic latches, shown in Figs. 2 and 4 as consisting in each case of a latch lever I 9 of magnetic material receivable in an elongated notch 20 in the under side of the plunger and having its inner end guided in a groove 2| in the inner end portion of the plunger and pivotally held so by a pivot pin 22.

The outer or forward end of the magnetic latch lever is shown as having a downwardly turned projection 23 adapted to drop through a hole 24 in the under side of the supporting tube and provided with an angular tip 50 to hook in under the wallof th'e tube. When the solenoid is deenergized and the pushbutton tip of the plunger is forced inward, the latch lever will drop down and the projecting portions 23, 50 at the forward end of the same will engage back of and in under the forward edge of the slot or opening 24, as shown at the second or intermediate solenoid in Fig. 2, to lock the indicator in retracted position.

When energized, the solenoid will magnetize and draw the plunger into the coil far enough to release the hook on the end of the latch and the latter then magnetized will be lifted up into the notch in the plunger to clear the opening 24 in the under side of the tube, thus to permit the spring I8 to thrust the plunger forward, as shown at the lower solenoid in Fig. 2.

The inward magnetic pull on the core and the lifting of the latch lever are practically part of the same magnetizing operation. As long as the energizing circuit is held closed the core will be held retracted in this relation with the latch lever magnetically supported. The instant the call circuit is opened, however, the spring, put under increased tension by the core, reacts immediately, snapping the core out into projected, indicating distinctively colored band 25 which will show be--`l yond the ends of the guide collar when the plunger is in projected position.

Light and sound signals may be provide-d for calling attention to actuation 'of one pr more #of the pushbutton signals.

In the illustration a lam-p Ais provided. at the head of the board at 26 and a buzzer at `21. The lamp is controlled by switches adapted to vbe closed by any one of the indicator solenoids and the buzzer is controlled by -a special relay solenoid shown at 28 and adapted to close the buzzer circui-t and hold it closed only -so long as a call buttn switch is held closed.

The light switches are shown as comprising normally separated spring switch 'levers 29, 30, adapted to be pressed together by studs 3| projecting .from the solenoid cor-es up through guide slots 32 in the tops of the solenoid sleeves.

The switch actuating studs 3l on the solenoid cores are shown as set .back far enough not to engage the spring switch levers 29 until after the magnetically actuated latch levers have been cleared from holding engagement |with their abutment shoulders vat 24. This, as will be olea-r from the No. 1 and No, y2 indicating solenoids shown in Fig. I2, yassures a -full clearing vaction of the latches before actuating the light closing switches.

These springswitches 29, 30, Vcushion the outward throw of the spring impelled indicating plungers, 4as shown at the lower, No. 2 indicating pushbutton in Fig. 2. The slots 32 through which the switch actuating studs 3| project may be designed, however, so as to positively limit and thus determine the final plOJ'eCted IDOSOH 0f the indicating plungers.

. The switch for lcontrolling the buzzer is shown as made up of normal-ly separated spring `con-- 4 dicated in Fig. 5 where two of the call buttons are shown at 39 connected by wiring 40 with one side of the power source 4I and by separate leads 42, 43, with the No. l and No. 2 solenoids 8, the latter having a common return 44 tothe other side of the power source. The No. 2 solenoid is shown 'a's having been tripped, 'closing the light switch, the contacts 29, 3D, of which are connected With the bus bars 31, 38, previously referred to.

"In the diagram the relay solenoid 28 is shown connected in the .common return 44 of the indicator solenoids 'so as to be energized each time a 'call hutten is -afctuate'd and for only so long as a call button is held.. The contacts 33, 34, of the tacts 33, 34, positioned to be closed by a stud 35 carried by the movable core 36 of the relay solenoid `28 and projecting up through a slot 31 in the top of the supporting sleeve of 4that solenoid. As shown in Fig. 2, these parts act reversely to those previously vdescribed in that the stud is located infr-ont of the movable switch lever 33 so as to close the latter against switch contact 34 vwhen the solenoid core 36 is drawn inwardinto the relay solenoid 28. 4

Since th-e purpose of the relay 28 is merely to hold the buzzer circuit closed while the call button is being pressed, no latch is required with this relay. Otherwise and except for the distinguishing features as to switch operation, the structure of the relay solenoid may be substantially the same as that of the signal solenoids and corresponding parts have therefore been so numbered.

The light switches and buzzer switch may be directly mounted on the back of the-panel board, substantially as indicated in Fig. 3 with bus bar strips 31, 38, or the equivalent connecting the light switches in parallel and all the switches for proper connection with the callpushbuttons and a suitable source of power.

A simplified form of circuit arrangement is inbuzzer switch fare shown yconnected at 45 and at 46 with the supply lead 38 and with the buzzer, the other side o`f ythe'buzzer being connected with the :supply source through connections 41, 44.

To avoid the possibility of residual magnetism affecting the operation of the magnetically controlled latches, the cores of the latch .solenoids may have a section of non-magnetic material such las brass, interposed mid-length, substantially as indicated at 49, Fig- 4. The interruption in the magnetic lines `of force thus provided, `par-` ticularly in the thinned or reduced lnotched portion ci the core, over the latch, `prevents accumulation of lmagnetic effects which otherwise might possibly affect proper operation of the latch.

The latches positively hold the plungers in the retracted, non-signalling position and thesprings hold these pluri-gers in the `projected :signalling position, Ithus adapting the invention particularly to use on ships and other carriers or in other places where vibration or shock might shake the indicators out of their true positions.

The solenoids take up small space, enabling an annunciator of considerable capacity to be made up in relatively small size. The indications are clear and unmistakable and easily read from practically any .position in front of or at 'one side of the board. The light Acomes -on when any signal is actuated and remains on until all the pushbuttons are restored. The buzzer, on the other hand, only sounds when and for only so long as any call button is pressed.

YThe switch actuating studs projecting rom the solenoid cores through the slots in the upper sides of the supporting sleeves .keep the cores lined up so that the latch levers will register with anddrop down through the abutment openings v2'4 in the lower sides of the sleeves. In this relation gravity can be relied upon to effect the tripping and catching of the latch levers. However, if considered desirable, light springs may be provided to thrust 'the latch levers through the openings -24 into engagement with their abutment shoulders.

The screw mounting of the solenoids in the supporting panel is particularly advantageous in that it enables quick removal 'and replacement of any solenoid that might develop any kind of a fault. The duplication 'of parts as ybetween all the signalling solenoids and of many parts as jba tween those and the relay vsolenoid 12B vis also of advantage. The relay solenoid may in fact be 'an exact duplicate of the other solenoids, except for the core or plunger, While it is not necessary that the 'core of the relay plunger vproject at the front of the board, this maybe left to project to serve as a means for manually closing the buzzer switch 33, 34, for test or other purposes.

Because of its small size but large Ycapacity and easily read signalling possibilities, the invention is especially adapted for use in elevators for signalling calls from different iloors.

Many other uses will be apparent and it will be clear that the switch actuating effects of the solenoid plungers may be utilized for various control purposes other than the simple signalling functions, such as the visual and audible signal actuating effects disclosed.

The hook-forming lips on the ends of the latches hold the plungers against accidental release from shock and concussion, such as occasioned by the firing of guns on shipboard. The solenoids, on the other hand, are strong enough to overcome the power of the projecting springs and to pull the plungers in enough to clear the hooks from holding engagement with the edge portions of the openings in the supporting tubes. Once unhooked, the latches, magnetized by the solenoid windings are lifted and held up in the clear, so as not to interfere with the projection of the plungers by the springs, the instant pressure on the call button is released. The plungers can work with a close sliding it through the guides in the ends of the supporting tubes so that the structure can be moistureproof. In practice, strands of packing material or packing rings may be held by the flanges I4 of the guide collars I3 to seal the plungers in sliding engagement in the solenoid tubes.

To increase their magnetic efliciency the solenoids may be ironclad as by enclosing the windings in shells of magnetic material.

Instead of making the plungers with two magnetic end sections separated by an intermediate non-magnetic section, the entire inner section,

say starting with the non-magnetic portion 49 in Fig. 4, may be of non-magnetic material, thus to concentrate all magnetic pull on the outer mage netic portion of the plunger, entering the field of the solenoid.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus of the character disclosed comprising a tubular support, a solenoid Winding about the same, a solenoid plunger operable in said tubular support, a. magnetic latch pivoted on said plunger, an abutment on the tubular support engageable by the end of said pivoted latch to hold the plunger in retracted relation, a spring confined in said tubular support in back of said plunger for projecting the latter when the latch is released and means for limiting the projecting movement of the plunger.

2. Apparatus of the character disclosed comprising a tubular support, a solenoid winding about the same, a solenoid plunger operable in said tubular support, a magnetic latch pivoted on said plunger, an abutment on the tubular support engageable by the end of said pivoted latch to hold the plunger in retracted relation, a spring confined in said tubular support in back of said plunger for projecting the latter when the latch is released and means for limiting the projecting movement of the plunger, said magnetic latch being disposed longitudinally in the intermediate portion of the plunger and said intermediate portion of the plunger in the region of said latch having a non-magnetic section.

3. Apparatus of the character disclosed cornprising a tubular support, a solenoid winding about the same, a solenoid plunger operable in said tubular support, a, magnetic latch pivoted on said plunger, an abutment on the tubular support engageable by the end of said pivoted latch to hold the plunger in retracted relation, a spring eonned in said tubular support in back of said plunger for projecting the latter when the latch is released and means for limiting the projecting movement of the plunger, said tubular support having an opening in one side of the same, with one edge of said opening providing the abutment for the latch and said latch having a hooked end portion adapted to pass through said opening and into hooked engagement over the edge portion of said opening.

4. Apparatus of the character disclosed comprising a tubular support, a solenoid Winding about the same, a solenoid plunger operable in said tubular support, a magnetic latch pivoted on said plunger, an abutment on the tubular support engageable by the end of said pivoted latch to hold the plunger in retracted relation, a spring conned in said tubular support in back of said plunger for projecting the latter when the latch is released and means for limiting the projecting movement of the plunger, said tubular support having an opening in one side of the same, with one edge of said opening providing the abutment for the latch and said latch having a, hooked end portion adapted to pass through said opening and into hooked engagement over the edge portion of said opening, a lateral projection on said plunger and the tubular support having a slot therein receiving said lateral projection and thereby limiting the extent of movement of the plunger in opposite directions.

DAVID CONLAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS are of record in the 

